This short Business Route was established in 1958, when a new Highway 17 Bypass was opened just to the north of Thessalon. The old alignment of Highway 17 through
Downtown Thessalon via Lakeside Drive, Huron Street, Main Street, River Street and Boyle Street became Highway 17B. The entire route of Highway 17B through Thessalon
was a non-assumed section of the King's Highway. On January 14, 1960, an Order-in-Council was signed which designated the non-assumed route of Highway 17B through
town as a Municipal Connecting Link. Thessalon's Highway 17B Municipal Connecting Link designation was formally repealed by a Minister's Order dated September 18,
1997. The Thessalon Business Route is still signed by the municipality to this day, although it is no longer an official route.